Stomatitis

Canker s0res are described as p4inful ulcers that occur in areas of the mouth such as the lips, gums, cheek, tongue or thr0at. While they tend to heal on their own, there are some home remedies that you can use to speed he4ling and reduce the pain. This article sh4res those home remedies as well as a closer look at the sympt0ms, causes, and symptom diagnosis for canker sores.

Sympt0ms include small painful ulcers with a bright red border. The center of the ulcer will appear to be white or yellow and they are typic4lly small measuring less than 1 cm. There may be as few as one ulcer 0r many at a time and the pain ass0ciated with the sores may interfere with the ability to eat and drink. Sw0llen lymph nodes may be felt in the area of the sores.

The c4use may not always be identifiable and is not always well understood, however, they are a common form of m0uth ulcer and tend to occur more in women then in men.

Canker sores may be triggered by em0tional stress or exposure to certain foods such as ch0colate, salty foods (e.g. potato chips), or citrus fruits. 0ther triggers may include vitamin 0r mineral deficiencies (i.e. iron, vitamin B-12, folic acid), menstrual period, hormonal changes and viral infections. S0res can be the direct result of injury to the tissues of the mouth due to dental work or biting the tongue, lip or cheek.

Diagn0sis is typically based on the observation of the symptoms mentioned above. A physici4n may need to evaluate the sores especially if they continue to return. Tests may be performed to rule out underlying c4uses such as erythema multiforme, allergic re4ction to medication, herpes infection, bullous lichen planus or other conditions.

Even th0ugh canker s0res are not cancerous and do not tend to become cancerous, they may mimic squ4mous cell carcinoma, which can present as a mouth ulcer that does not he4l. If this condition is suspected, a biopsy of the sore may be performed.

Treatment is not always necess4ry as canker sores tend to heal on their own with the pain subsiding within a few days and other symptoms he4ling over a two week period. If you experience these s0res in your mouth, you should avoid hot and spicy foods until the sore heals.

Mixing one-half hydr0gen peroxide and one-half water and applying this mixture to the c4nker sore using a cotton swab. Follow this with a small amount of Milk of M4gnesia applied directly to the sore. Repeat this three or four times a day.

A physici4n may prescribe pain relievers or antibi0tic ointment suitable for use in the m0uth to speed healing and relieve pain. Any irrit4nt to the lining of the mouth should be corrected by a dentist.